French, Israel Nuke Talks Are Reportedly Interrupted

June 2, 1986

PARIS (Jun. 1)

Talks between French and Israeli experts on the sale of two nuclear reactors to Israel have been interrupted, according to scientific sources in Paris. The talks had been going on for close to a year and had dealt with the sale of two French made reactors estimated at two billion French Francs or close to $300 million.

French sources said Paris broke off the talks for a variety of reasons which went from Israel’s apparent inability to pay even part of the cost of the two reactors, to Arab threats to break off trade relations with France should the sale go through. Israeli sources were not prepared to comment on this report.

The talks have been going on since December 1984 when Israeli Premier Shimon Peres paid an official visit to France. The negotiations “slowed down” a few months later and resumed after Peres’ latest visit to France. According to these sources, the experts representing the French government-owned company Franatom have now been recalled from Israel where most of the talks were held.

The two reactors, which were to have been used for energy creating purposes, were to have been erected in the Negev by French and Israeli technicians.